Synopses & Reviews
Americas greatest president, who rose to power in the countrys greatest hour of need and whose vision saw the United States through the Civil War
Abraham Lincoln towers above the others who have held the office of presidentthe icon of greatness, the pillar of strength whose words bound up the nations wounds. His presidency is the hinge on which American history pivots, the time when the young republic collapsed of its own contradictions and a new birth of freedom, sanctified by blood, created the United States we know today. His story has been told many times, but never by a man who himself sought the office of president and contemplated the awesome responsibilities that come with it.
George S. McGoverna Midwesterner, former U.S. senator, presidential candidate, veteran, and historian by trainingoffers his unique insight into our sixteenth president. He shows how Lincoln sometimes went astray, particularly in his restrictions on civil liberties, but also how he adjusted his sights and transformed the Civil War from a political dispute to a moral crusade. McGoverns account reminds us why we hold Lincoln in such esteem and why he remains the standard by which all of his successors are measured.
George S. McGovern represented South Dakota in the United States Senate from 1963 to 1981 and was the Democratic nominee for president in 1972. He was a decorated bomber pilot in World War II, after which he earned his Ph.D. in American history and government at Northwestern University. A recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, he lives in Mitchell, South Dakota.
Abraham Lincoln, who came into the presidency in the countrys greatest hour of need, towers above the others who have held the office of presidentthe icon of greatness, the pillar of strength whose words bound up the nations wounds. His vision saw the United States through the Civil War. His presidency is the hinge on which American history pivots, the time when the young republic collapsed of its own contradictions and a new birth of freedom, sanctified by blood, created the United States we know today. His story has been told many times, but never by a man who himself sought the office of president and contemplated the awesome responsibilities that come with it.
George S. McGoverna Midwesterner, former U.S. senator, presidential candidate, veteran, and historian by trainingoffers his unique insight into our sixteenth president. He shows how Lincoln sometimes went astray, particularly in his restrictions on civil liberties, but also how he adjusted his sights and transformed the Civil War from a political dispute to a moral crusade. McGoverns account reminds us why we hold Lincoln in such esteem and why he remains the standard by which all of his successors are measured. "The greatness and imperfections of America's 16th president, captured by a former Democratic nominee for the White House. With considerable skill and insight, McGovern crafts a biography snappy, clear and comprehensive enough to please general readers, students and scholars alike. In eight short chapters, six of which deal with Lincoln's presidency, he nails the essential strengths, flaws, failures and achievements of America's most revered leader."Kirkus Reviews
"McGoverns Lincoln is a finely wrought gem. In this small volume McGovern captures Lincolns character and leadership strengths better than many weighty tomes. It is a worthy addition to the brilliant American Presidents Series."Doris Kearns Goodwin
"If you like your biographies very short and sweet with a dash of corrective moralism, you might try George McGovern's Abraham Lincoln, a well-timed entry in Times Books' presidents series, written by the former White House candidate."David Waldstreicher, The Boston Globe
"Lincoln is one of the few presidents to be claimed by both liberals and conservatives. This volume by the former Democratic presidential candidate (in the American President Series from Times Books, edited by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. and Sean Willentz) examines Lincoln's record from a liberal point of view, particularly his early and apparent contradictory views on slaveryhis platform made clear that his purpose was to contain slavery in the Southern states, not to abolish it. An example: In our 16th president, writes McGovern, 'We see the decency of popular government. Its role, then as now, was, as Lincoln wrote "to elevate the condition of men . . . to afford all an unfettered start in the race of life" . . . To him, democracy was an experiment that the world had not seen before.' Simply put, McGovern makes a convincing case that America's first Republican president was really our first democratic president."Allen Barra, The Star-Ledger (Newark)
"Following the lead of 'one book, one community' programs across the country, the Louisiana Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission has chosen a 'common book' about Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln by George McGovern is the pick for Louisiana residents to learn about Lincoln as part of the celebration surrounding his 200th birthday. This book is part of Times Books American Presidents series. Its short, 155 pages, but succinctly covers Lincolns life from boyhood to his death at age 56. The late Arthur Schlesinger, who served as editor of the American Presidents series, laid out the publishers aim in the preface to the Lincoln volume: 'to present the grand panorama of our chief executive in volumes compact enough for the busy reader, lucid enough for the student, authoritative enough for the scholar' . . . The resulting book is a frank look at a man who succeeded despite facing many obstacles. One of the things that shaped Lincolns character and constantly challenged the 16th president, McGovern said, was his struggle with depression . . . McGovern doesnt gloss over Lincoln's shortcomings in his book. He writes extensively about the suspension of habeas corpusthe right to be released after arrest if the charges against you are without legal merit. Lincoln suspended the right for certain areas in rebellion. It was an action that legal scholars still debate . . . McGoverns book is an excellent source to get a nice overview of Lincolns life and career. It is heavily footnoted and indexed, and readers who want more detailed information can consult McGoverns listed sources. In his book, McGovern gives one of the most concise and best reasons for studying Lincoln: 'We examine his life and we wonder what we can make of our own.'"Greg Langley, The Advocate
"The greatness and imperfections of America's 16th president, captured by a former Democratic nominee for the White House. With considerable skill and insight, McGovern crafts a biography snappy, clear and comprehensive enough to please general readers, students and scholars alike. In eight short chapters, six of which deal with Lincoln's presidency, he nails the essential strengths, flaws, failures and achievements of America's most revered leader. Born in a Kentucky log cabin, Lincoln was a melancholic who suffered more than his fair share of misfortune. According to McGovern, he nevertheless earned success through his ceaseless hard work, powerful intellect and incomparable abilities as a speechwriter. Lincoln began his political career as a member of the Whig Party. After serving in the Illinois state legislature, he won election to the U.S. Congress in 1846, but lost support by challenging President James Polk on the origins of the Mexican War and lasted only one term. The 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act, sponsored by Democratic Senator Stephen Douglas, reinvigorated Lincoln's political ambitions. While he believed the Constitution did not allow for abolition in the South, he staunchly opposed the westward expansion of slavery. With the Whig Party split, he joined the new Republican Party in 1856 and ran against Douglas for a Senate seat in 1858. Although he lost this race, Lincoln gained national prominence as a result of his famous debates with Douglas. Two years later, he won the 1860 presidential election, a victory that angered the South and brought about secession and war. What was he like as a wartime president? In three core chapters, McGovern astutely assesses Lincoln's emergence as a commander in chief committed to 'total war.' The author does not shy away from criticizing his subject, particularly for suspending habeas corpus and censoring the press. Still McGovern's overall depiction is one of a complex, tolerant and extraordinary man who simultaneously preserved the Union and transformed the nation. Compact and commanding."Kirkus Reviews
"Former U.S. senator McGovernwho is also a Ph.D. historianknows something about presidential leadership and the potential and actual abuses of power that come especially during wartime. In this compact but convincing portrait, he assesses Lincoln's greatness in terms of his ability to use his humble origins, empathy, keen sense of justice, uncommon skill in seeing the essence of an issue, faith in American democracy, gifts of language, and personal self-confidenceall to become a masterly lawyer, a party leader, commander in chief, and a heroic figure with both the vision and the practicality to realize his purposes . . . Given his own politics, McGovern not surprisingly examines Lincoln's use of war powers in suspending habeas corpus, suppressing dissent, and freeing the slaves, finally conceding that the great crisis of secession and the prospect of ending slavery justified Lincoln's overstepping constitutional bounds-for the moment. This biography warrants reading to catch the sense of Lincoln's greatness, both for his own day and ours."Randall M. Miller, Library Journal
"In this modest, fluent bio, part of the American Presidents Series, former Democratic senator and presidential nominee McGovern finds an inspiring lesson in what a man can do with his life. McGovern's Lincoln is a smart, ambitious striver who overcame humble origins, repeated setbacks and spells of depression. He is an idealist who, though burdened with the racial prejudices of his day, embraced the principle of equal opportunity. Most resonantly for the author, he is a brilliant politician who, combining pragmatism with high purpose, steered a crooked course through ugly political realities to end the intractable curse of slavery."Publishers Weekly
Review
"A startlingly original and deeply thoughtful analysis of Abraham Lincoln. If you are looking to read just one book on Lincoln, this landmark gem is the one!"--Douglas Brinkley
"A dramatically engaging and intellectually stimulating rendering of the life of our greatest president."--Thomas J. Knock, Southern Methodist University
"McGoverns Lincoln is a finely wrought gem. In this small volume McGovern captures Lincolns character and leadership strength better than many weighty tomes. It is a worthy addition to the brilliant American Presidents Series."--Doris Kearns Goodwin Bret Easton Ellis - Candace Bushnell - Dominick Dunne - Jay McInerney - Jonathan Demme, filmmaker - A.O. Scott - Martin Arnold - Steve Kroft, 60 Minutes - J. B. Priestley - Charles de Lint - Dallas Observer - Jennifer Weiner, author of In Her Shoes and Little Earthquakes - Jay Leno - Laura Zigman, author of Animal Husbandry, Dating Big Bird, and Her - Liz Smith - Gillian Engberg - Clarissa Cruz - Jay Strafford - Hallie Ephron - Patrick Anderson - Walter Jon Williams - S. M. Stirling - Connie Willis, Hugo Award-winning author of To Say Nothing of the Dog - Morgan Llywelyn - Jacqueline Carey - George R.R. 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Review
"A startlingly original and deeply thoughtful analysis of Abraham Lincoln. If you are looking to read just one book on Lincoln, this landmark gem is the one!"--Douglas Brinkley
"A dramatically engaging and intellectually stimulating rendering of the life of our greatest president."--Thomas J. Knock, Southern Methodist University
"McGoverns Lincoln is a finely wrought gem. In this small volume McGovern captures Lincolns character and leadership strength better than many weighty tomes. It is a worthy addition to the brilliant American Presidents Series."--Doris Kearns Goodwin
Review
"A startlingly original and deeply thoughtful analysis of Abraham Lincoln. If you are looking to read just one book on Lincoln, this landmark gem is the one!"--Douglas Brinkley
"A dramatically engaging and intellectually stimulating rendering of the life of our greatest president."--Thomas J. Knock, Southern Methodist University
"McGoverns Lincoln is a finely wrought gem. In this small volume McGovern captures Lincolns character and leadership strength better than many weighty tomes. It is a worthy addition to the brilliant American Presidents Series."--Doris Kearns Goodwin
"Short and sweet… a well-timed entry in Times Books presidents series."—Boston Sunday Globe
"Abraham Lincoln is an entry in the highly regarded American Presidents series… A fine read for those who want to know about Lincoln but may not have the time for the more in-depth biographies."—Bookpage
"Compact and commanding… With considerable skill and insight, McGovern… crafts a biography snappy, clear and comprehensive enough to please general readers, students and scholars alike… he nails the essential strengths, flaws, failures and achievements of Americas most revered leader… McGoverns overall depiction is one of a complex, tolerant and extraordinary man who simultaneously preserved the Union and transformed the nation."—Kirkus Reviews
"McGovern finds an inspiring lesson in what a man can do with his life. McGovern's Lincoln is a smart, ambitious striver who overcame humble origins, repeated setbacks and spells of depression… when McGovern's lucid homage concludes, ‘We wish our leaders could be more like Lincoln; we wish we all could be, readers are likely to agree."—Publishers Weekly
"In this compact but convincing portrait, [McGovern] assesses Lincolns greatness in terms of his ability to use his humble origins… faith in American democracy, gifts of language, and personal self-confidence… The biography warrants reading to catch the sense of Lincolns greatness, both for his own day and ours."—Library Journal
"[A] fine préscis… [McGovern] clearly enunciates the great changes that Lincoln and the war began to effect."— Booklist
Synopsis
Americas greatest president, who rose to power in the countrys greatest hour of need and whose vision saw the United States through the Civil War
Abraham Lincoln towers above the others who have held the office of president—the icon of greatness, the pillar of strength whose words bound up the nations wounds. His presidency is the hinge on which American history pivots, the time when the young republic collapsed of its own contradictions and a new birth of freedom, sanctified by blood, created the United States we know today. His story has been told many times, but never by a man who himself sought the office of president and contemplated the awesome responsibilities that come with it.
George S. McGovern—a Midwesterner, former U.S. senator, presidential candidate, veteran, and historian by training—offers his unique insight into our sixteenth president. He shows how Lincoln sometimes went astray, particularly in his restrictions on civil liberties, but also how he adjusted his sights and transformed the Civil War from a political dispute to a moral crusade. McGoverns account reminds us why we hold Lincoln in such esteem and why he remains the standard by which all of his successors are measured.
Synopsis
McGovern—a former U.S. senator, presidential candidate, veteran, and historian by training—offers his unique insight into our sixteenth president.
About the Author
George S. McGovern represented South Dakota in the United States Senate from 1963 to 1981 and was the Democratic nominee for president in 1972. He was a decorated bomber pilot in World War II, after which he earned his Ph.D. in American history and government at Northwestern University. A recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, he lives in Mitchell, South Dakota.